Theory of due repurchase : gaining more from using less : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Marketing at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

The aim of the thesis is to enhance the current knowledge on repurchase behaviour and provide a model that enables marketing practitioners to ‘gain more from using less’ through reallocating their resources and investing more in underutilised customer data. This is because producing the desired customer response using the least costly marketing actions is the key to success in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace. Although models predicting repurchase behaviour in non-contractual settings exist, their predictive and explanatory performances are poor. None of these existing models considers the roles of purchase quantity (PQ) and homogeneity of interpurchase times (IPTs) in predicting repurchase behaviour. Hence, Theory of Due Repurchase is developed in this thesis and suggests that the customer’s next purchase is highly expected under three repurchase conditions, which are that the customer is 1) a frequent shopper; 2) has upward-trending PQs; and 3) has homogeneous IPTs. These three variables are not only expected to be strong predictors of repurchase behaviour, but also correctly classify more customers than existing behavioural models, including recency, frequency and monetary value (RFM). Using a transaction dataset available in the literature, six studies were conducted to empirically test the Theory of Due Repurchase, examine its predictive accuracy and replicate the findings. The results support all of the hypotheses, developed as part of the conceptual model, and replicate the findings. Theory of Due Repurchase correctly classifies over 88% of customers across four samples, improving the current level of accuracy in predicting repurchase behaviour by approximately 19 percentage points. The thesis provides a number of academic and managerial insights on effective targeting

The Optimizing of Prefabricated Solar Cells by Dual Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Background: The quest for improving the efficiency of solar cells has garnered considerable attention in numerous scientific investigations. One promising approach involves utilizing plasmons generated by metal nanoparticles to enhance the performance of photovoltaic solar cells. Materials and Methods: High-purity gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and a combination of both were synthesized using pulsed laser ablation in distilled water. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were deposited onto silicon (Si) substrates and pre-existing Si homo-junction photovoltaic cells. Results: The optical analysis of the prepared nanoparticle suspension revealed distinct plasmonic bands located at approximately 400 nm and 523 nm wavelengths for AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. In the case of the AuNPs:AgNPs mixture, two plasmonic bands were observed, corresponding to the presence of both types of metal nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the deposited nanoparticle samples on Si wafers demonstrated a polycrystalline structure for all samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging displayed uniformly distributed spherical Au nanoparticles on the substrate, while AgNPs exhibited some aggregations. Conclusion: The photovoltaic (PV) solar cells demonstrated an enhanced performance, attributed to the ability of the plasmonic nanoparticles to facilitate increased light absorption or enhance surface conductivity. The combination of silver and gold particles holds promise for solar surface coating, further optimizing the cells to capture a greater amount of solar radiation within their plasmon peaks. This study highlights the potential of plasmonic nanoparticles to enhance the efficiency of previously prepared PV cells

Optimize of LIBS Setup to the Determination of Laser Breakdown Power of Writing Inks

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system (LIBS) had been designed to the determinate of the best ionization laser power for analysis of the writing inks via analysis induced plasma emission. Passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength 1064 nm  with different  energies (60 mJ,80mJ, 100 mJ, 200 mJ, 300mJ, 400mJ and 500 mJ) with (10 ns) pulse duration, the laser beam was focused via converging lens with focal length (100 mm) that generates different power intensity, optical spectrum analysis system used was within (Si-CCD)  array detector, within spectrum range of (200 - 900 nm) with (0.8 nm) optical resolution. Use A4 sheets of commercially available standard white office paper with 2 Ballpoint pens and 1 Gel pen as samples. Show the results that the laser energy (80 mJ) with (  power density, was the best power to generate plasma homogeneous for all component writing inks and ionize it without effect on the paper material. Keywords: LIBS, Laser intensity, Writing inks, White paper, plasma emissions lines, emission line analyses DOI: 10.7176/CPER/61-05 Publication date: July 31st 201

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ZILEUTON AND MK-866 AGAINST HEPATIC DAMAGE INDUCED BY DOXORUBICIN

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Zileuton and MK-886 against hepatic damage induced by doxorubicin. Methods: A total of 30 healthy adult male albino rats were randomized and rats were divided into five groups, six animals in each: Control negative group, Vehicle group: Rats were given ethanol i.p., Dx group: Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg), Mk group: Mk-886-treated rats given 0.6 mg/kg of Mk-886 i.p, and Z group: Zileuton-treated rats given zileuton 10 mg/kg i.p. Biochemical tests of the serum for ASAT and ALAT level were estimated. Serum glutathione (GSH) concentrations (μg/ml) were determined using GSH ELISA Kit, while serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (ng/ml) were determined using MDA ELISA Kit. Livers were removed from each rat and fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin for histopathological studies. Results: MK- and zileuton-treated groups showed higher GSH levels and lower MDA levels as compared with Dx-treated group. MK-886 associated with significant p<0.05 decreased the liver enzymes in comparison with doxorubicin-treated rats. Zileuton showed insignificant (p>0.05) changes. The liver tissues that treated with Dx only showed several histopathological changes such as moderate sinusoidal dilation, vacuolation, mild-to-moderate hepatocyte necrosis/degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration, and severe congestion. Liver tissues that treated by zileuton with Dx showed sinusoidal dilation, vacuolation, mild congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration, while those treated with Mk-886 plus Dx showed nearly normal liver pathophysiology. Conclusion: It has been concluded that Zileuton and MK-886 have protective effects against hepatic damage induced by doxorubicin

A Generalized Solution of Bianchi Type-V Models with Time-dependent GG and Λ\Lambda

We study the homogeneous but anisotropic Bianchi type-V cosmological model with time-dependent gravitational and cosmological "constants". Exact solutions of the Einstein field equations (EFEs) are presented in terms of adjustable parameters of quantum field theory in a spatially curved and expanding background. It has been found that the general solution of the average scale factor R as a function of time involved the hypergeometric function. Two cosmological models are obtained from the general solution of the hypergeometric function and the Emden-Fowler equation. The analysis of the models shows that for a particular choice of parameters in our first model, the cosmological "constant" decreases whereas the Newtonian gravitational "constant" increases with time, and for another choice of parameters, the opposite behaviour is observed. The models become isotropic at late times for all parameter choices of the first model. In the second model of the general solution, both the cosmological and gravitational "constants" decrease while the model becomes more anisotropic over time. The exact dynamical and kinematical quantities have been calculated analytically for each model.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures. Published versio

Screening for plant transporter function by expressing a normalized Arabidopsis full-length cDNA library in Xenopus oocytes

BACKGROUND: We have developed a functional genomics approach based on expression cloning in Xenopus oocytes to identify plant transporter function. We utilized the full-length cDNA databases to generate a normalized library consisting of 239 full-length Arabidopsis thaliana transporter cDNAs. The genes were arranged into a 96-well format and optimized for expression in Xenopus oocytes by cloning each coding sequence into a Xenopus expression vector. RESULTS: Injection of 96 in vitro transcribed cRNAs from the library in pools of columns and rows into oocytes and subsequent screening for glucose uptake activity identified three glucose transporters. One of these, AtSTP13, had not previously been experimentally characterized. CONCLUSION: Expression of the library in Xenopus oocytes, combined with uptake assays, has great potential in assignment of plant transporter function and for identifying membrane transporters for the many plant metabolites where a transporter has not yet been identified

USER fusion: a rapid and efficient method for simultaneous fusion and cloning of multiple PCR products

We present a method that allows simultaneous fusion and cloning of multiple PCR products in a rapid and efficient manner. The procedure is based on the use of PCR primers that contain a single deoxyuridine residue near their 5′ end. Treatment of the PCR products with a commercial deoxyuridine-excision reagent generates long 3′ overhangs designed to specifically complement each other. The combination of this principle with the improved USER cloning technique provides a simple, fast and very efficient method to simultaneously fuse and clone multiple PCR fragments into a vector of interest. Around 90% positive clones were obtained when three different PCR products were fused and cloned into a USER-compatible vector in a simple procedure that, apart from the single PCR amplification step and the bacterial transformation, took approximately one hour. We expect this method to replace overlapping PCR and the use of type IIS restriction enzymes in many of their applications

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

ObjectivesWe sought to investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in preventing the new onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.BackgroundDiabetes is a public health problem of epidemic proportions and its prevalence is on the rise. The typical American born today has a one in three chance of developing type 2 diabetes. This diagnosis is associated with an adverse cardiovascular prognosis and is considered the risk equivalent of established coronary disease. Even in high-risk individuals, diabetes is a preventable disease. Several studies have shown that ACE inhibitors and ARBs decrease the incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes. However, the exact role of these agents in diabetes prevention has not yet been fully elucidated.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled clinical trials of ACE inhibitors or ARBs, identified through a MEDLINE search and a review of reports from scientific meetings, to study the efficacy of these medications in diabetes prevention.ResultsThis showed that ACE inhibitors and ARBs were associated with reductions in the incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes by 27% and 23%, respectively, and by 25% in the pooled analysis.ConclusionsThe use of an ACE inhibitor or ARB should be considered in patients with pre-diabetic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, family history of diabetes, obesity, congestive heart failure, or coronary heart disease

Image Encryption using Resilient Boolean Function and DCT

The information security is becoming more important in data storage and transmission, where images are widely used in it. The Stream cipher cryptosystems are extensively used for provide a reliable and efficient method of security. The new propose system image encryption investigated by encrypt the powerful frequency coefficients in DCT by used saturated best resilient Boolean function that constructed by Zhang's constructions that implement Maiorana-McFarland like constructions technique and its modifications. The simulation results of the proposal system calculate correlation test (Corr1) and PSNR1 to compare between original and encrypted image as parameter of robustness, and correlation test (Corr2) and PSNR2 as correlation parameter between original and decrypted image as parameter of quality in reconstruct image

Does pleural tuberculosis disease pattern differ among developed and developing countries

SummaryBackground: A number of reports from developed countries have documented a rising age at which pleural tuberculosis occurs and increase in the frequency of reactivation disease being as the main cause of pleural involvement.Objective: To determine the age at which pleural tuberculosis occurs, study its clinical pattern, and to determine whether pleural tuberculosis is a result of reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis or it is a primary one comparing our findings with results from developed countries.Method: Retrospective study of 100 cases discharged from Hamad General Hospital with the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis from January 1996 to December 2002.Results: Pleural tuberculosis tends to affect younger age groups (84% are below the age of 45 years, with mean age of 31.5). The disease tends to be mostly a primary infection. Fever is the most common symptom (90%) and the disease is usually an acute or sub acute one. Weight loss precedes other symptoms. Exudative pleural effusion with predominant lymphocytosis is characteristic. Majority of patients have no predisposing conditions for the disease.Conclusion: In contrast to what has been reported in some developed countries, Pleural tuberculosis tends to be a primary disease in the present study. Younger age groups are particularly affected